Machine for making box-blanks



0. A. SCHMITT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX'BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED 1uLY29. i919.

1,355,430. Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

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MACHINELPOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPIlcATIoN FILED JuLY 29. 1919.

1,355,430. Patented 0015.121920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. A. SCHMITT.

IVICHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS. APPLlcATloN FILED www, 1919.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

5 SHEETSTSHEET 3.

o. A. SCHMITT. MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED IULYZGIl |919.

Patented Oct. 1 2, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

0. A. SCHMITT.

MACHINE FOR MAKlN BOX BLANKS. APPLICATION FILED 1ULY 29, 1919.

1 3 55,43309 Patented v Oct. 12, 1920.

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OTTO A. SCHMITT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE FOR MAKING- BOX-BLANKS.

Application filed Ju1y 29, 1919. Serial No. 314,114.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OTTO ANDREW Soru-HTT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Box-Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine -for cutting' and scoring box blanks in the manufacture of paper boxes, the same being an improvement on and reorganization of the machine described in U. S. Patent No.1,143,672. The machine is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of boxes usually madek of corrugated board and reinforced at the edges by means of plaits or folds in the material, the box referred to being of the General type described in U. S. Patent NI). 1,063,845. The machine is however, capable of a broader and more general application.

The box illustra-ted in the Patent N o. 1,063,845 is reinforced by means of plaits or .folds extending along the corners, which term in the present instance refers to the .lines formed by the intersection of two sides rather than to the points formed by the insection of three sides, and while all the 'corners of the box may be thus reinforced, in the preferred form of the invention, the plaits extend along the top and bottoni corners or horizontal edges only.

In the manufacture of such boxes, the blanks are preferably first plaited, that is, the two reinforcing folds are formed in the blank, the same being parallel and extending the length of the blank in the type of box just described, and spaced apart by a distance equal to the height of the finished box. rlihese pla-its are preferably sewed or otherwise fastened to make them permanent. The paper on each side of the plaits is to be utilized as iiaps forming the top and bottom of the box.

The machine of the present application is intended to operate on the plaited blanks as described, cutting the flaps and forming the corners. An important diiiiculty encountered in the manufacture of boxes of this type is in the bending of the plaited portions of the paper at the corners. Where the paper is thus thickened, the outside fibers give way in bending and the corners break. This stroke.

mounted on the knife the edges ofthe flaps results making the product of unpleasing appearance and less than maximum strength. To overcome this difficulty and perfect the product, the machine has beenreorganized as hereinafter described. The corner-forming and flap-cutting functions are performed by the single machine as previously. v The flap-cutting operation precedes the formation ofthe corners, the knivesbeing withdrawn prior to the corner-forming operation.

In the preferred form of the invention as shown, the cutter or knife and the die are mounted to move in unison but they are op# positely disposed so that they operate, one on the forward, and the other on the return Coperating with the cutter is a suitable cutting block and die and cooperate ing with the die is a suitable internal former.

Inthe accompanying drawings I have illustrated a cutting and scoring machine embodying my invention in thev preferred form.

Figure 1 is a frontv'elevation ofthe machine with the table cut away;

-Fig. 2 is a side elevation; f

Fig. 3 is a plan with the left half -of the upperbeam removed;

Fig. 4 is adetail view showing the internal corner-former and die in side elevation; the die being in its withdrawn position;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the drive shaft showing the clutch in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section at the same point;

F 7 is a perspective of the clutch pin; Y

and cutter block withl the corner-forming die; in the rear of the plane of the section; an

Fig. 10V is an enlarged section through the cutter block.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the machine which in general terms is called a press, is'rdriven by means of a belt 1 run-- ning on a pulley 2 fast on the shaft 3, see Fig.5, to which is keyed a pinion 4 meshing with the toothed gear 5 which is loose on the drive shaft 6; This gear 5 coperates with a clutch 7 secured to the' shaft 6 by any suitable means as a key 8. As an engaging means for the clutch, the gear 5 carries on its face disposed toward the clutch member, a plurality of abutments 10. VIn the present insta-nce, there are four of these in the form of bolt-heads, the boltsll being seated in the gear hubV parallel to the shaft. These abutments 10V may of course be provided in any suitable manner, the arrangement described, z'. e., the use of the bolts, being chosen because it makes it possible to use the toughestV metal having the greatest re` sistive properties for the clutch abutments 10 with an ordinary vcast iron or cast steel gear. The clutch member as shown, consists of Va cast iron central portion or body 12 inclosed by spaced steel bands 13. The body portion has a peripheral ,groovek or dog path 14 between the bands and a longitudinal slot or groove 15 for a sliding'` clutch bolt 16, held in its seat by the bands 13. Also,'there is a peripheral seat 17V in which is secured Va circular orV segmental leaf spring 18 which engages the end of the bolt remote from the gear 5, imparting to it a tendency. to slideI through Vthe slot to the right and causing it, unless otherwise restrained, to engage. with its end surface 19 the adjacent'surface 20.0f thev gear. Tn this position, it projects into the path of the abutments 10'by one of which it would in this position be engaged, thus rotatively connecting theY gear: 5 to the clutch member y Y and hence to the shaft. The operation of the clutehvis controlled by a tapering dog 22 carried byl an arm 23.0n the dog shaft 24 which is operated by the pedal 25, see Fig. 2, the latter being normally Vraised by the `spring 26 which thus controls the annular position Vof the shaft 24, swinging Y Y the arm 23 which is on the opposite side of the shaft, downward to theleft,z'. e., contraclockwise, and holding the dog 22 inthe dog path or groove 14, it being understood that the.V path the steel rings 13 are spaced apart'to expose 14 while they at the same time cover the longitudinall slot 15 holding the clutch pin or sliding boltv 16 in the slot. This'sliding bolt orl pin 16 is notched transversely at 27, more or less inregistration with the groove 14 when the pin isv withdrawn. One corner of the notch is rounded "withdraws the pin from the path of the .the dog 22 cooperating with this cam surface 28, serves to withdraw the pin as the clutch rotates, sliding the curved surface of the notchin the pin over the inclined surface of the dog. Normally, the dog 22 is held in the path or groove 14 in the clutch by means of the spring 26. When the dog takes this position, the clutch member is rotated until the. dog, which is wedge-shaped, enters the notch 27 in the sliding bolt 16 and by engaging the cam surface 28 in the notch 8O abutments 10 on the gear,V releasing the clutch and the gear 5 sothat it rotates free of the shaft.

The drive shaft 6 also carries a brake drum or disk 30 encircling whichis a brake band 31 shown as suitably lined with resistive fabric 32. Tension is applied to the bandby means of a bolt 33 swiveled in one end Tof the pin and threaded in the4 other. This brake band 31 has a radially projecting arm 34 secured to the frame by means of bolt 21 to preventl rotation of the band. This brake serves to check immediately the rotation of theA drive shaft and hence the functioning of the moving parts of the machine immediately on the release of the clutch. Y

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be note'd that the drive shaft v6 is enlarged at both ends to form crank -disks or solid cranks 35 100 mounted inV suitable bearings 44 in `each of the endframes 45 whichv are suitably secured together to form a rigid frame for the machine. The crank disks carry crank pins 36 with which cooperate upright con- 105 nectingrods 37 carrying wrist pins 38 seated in cross-heads 39 moving in vertical ways 40. The cross-heads 39, referred to as the lower cross-heads, are connected each by a rigid upright rod or shaft 41 with anupper 110 cross-head 42 sliding in yvertical ways 43. The lower'cross-'heads carry the lower transverseV beam 46 extending from end to end of the machine, and the upper cross-heads carry the upper transverse beam 47 likewise 115 extending from end to end of the machine. These beams of course reciprocate with the corresponding cross-heads 39 and 42 maintaining a uniform relation to each other. The upper beam 47 has at its lower edge 120 a transverse horizontal way or rail 49 on which are mounted knife carriages 50, carrying the depending, downwardly disposed knifeblades 51 rigidly but'remevably se cured to the bottom edge of the carriage. Tn the form shown, each knife carriage has secured' thereto c rack 52 engaged byra toothed pinion 53 having a bearing in the beam 47. 'Each pinion is controlled by a Asuitable hand wheel 154 by the rotation of130 which the knives may be moved to the desired position of adjustment to conform to the height or depth oi the particular boxes being made. The knife carriages are secured in adjusted position by set screws 54 seated in the carriages and engaging the ways when turned up to clamping position.

j Beneath the knives 51 mounted :tor adjustment in suitable ways in a stationary table parallel to the ways 49, are the cutting blocks 56. There is a block corresponding to each knii'e, separately adjustable as hereinafter described, and each block is slotted at 57 to admit the knife. The slots are wide enough to provide clearance and their edges are armed with hard steel cutting members 5S- having edges 59 which project over the slot in close relation to the rutting blade in its cutting position. These cutting members are secured to the blocks by screws 61.

Each cutting block in the form of the invention shown, carries a rack 62 meshing with a pinion 63 on a transverse shaft 64 having suitable bearings in the table at 65 and provided with a hand wheel 66 by meansot which the block may be moved along the ways to adjusted position. kThe cutting blocks are held in adjusted position in the ways by means of set screws 68 which bear against friction plates 120 which in turn serve to transmit the pressure ot the screws to the cutting blocks. rlhe cutting members 58 are adjusted laterally, i. el, toward the blade, to take up wear by means of horizontal transverse screws 69 seated in the cutting members and having their heads 70 located in notches or recesses 71 in the cutting blocks, the adjustment resulting from the pressure of the screw heads against the vertical ways 72 of the notches being very slight and dependent upon the slight play existing between the cutting members 5S and the blocks.

The knives 51 are provided to cut the flaps and are made adjustable each toward and from the other in the direction or" their length, c'. e., from right to leit in Fig. 1, so that they may be always spaced apart by a distance equal to the height of the boxes being made. lV hen the parts are in adjustment, the cutting blocks are directly beneath the corresponding knives, that is, the slot 57 in the block is open at one end, the end disposed toward the center of the machine making the block in effect U-shaped in plan so that the spacing of thecutting blocks Contorms exactly to the spacing of tl e knives, This leaves a space or opening at the center of the through the ways 55, equal in length to the height et the i'inished box and in width to the width of the ways. rllhrough this opening, the corner dies 75, which operate on the rip-stroke, reciprocate vertically and come at the top of their traverse into Adjacent the pivots 75 are mounted on the lower reciprocating beam 46, it being understood that these two beams are rigidly connected, moving up and down together. The vertical relations of the cutter knife, corner dies and interr nal corner former are shown in Fig. 9, the knife 51 being directly in front ot the internal corner former 76, and the cutter block 56 in front of the die 75. The internal corner formers 76 are mounted on the stationary supports 7 7 secured to the rods 78 which are seated at their enos in the end trames The supports 77 engage the rods by means of split bearings 79 closed by set screws 80. By loosening the set screws, the bearings be opened to sliding relation with the rods and the supports moved to he desired position in relation to the knives and clamped by tightening the screws. This position, in the operative adjustment of the machine, is close to the knives and just out of contact as shown in F ig. 1.

To accommodate the corner die 75, the beam 46 has its top edge formed with a way or rail 82 having its center line directly beneath the knife and internal former 6. On this way or rail, the dies are mounted as illustrated in Fig. 4, the dies having a two-sided groove 88 to receive the rail or way, the third side of the groove which is of dovetailed cross-section to correspond to the rail or way, also dovetailed, being formed by a clamping block 84 secured to the side of the die block vby means of set screws 85. When the set screws are loosened, the die may be slid along the way or rail at will, and when they are tightened, the dies are held in adjusted position, kthe die being clamped to the rail. Adjusted position is directly beneath the former 76.

The corner-forming die 75 is similar in principle to the corresponding die described and shown in the Weiss and Dewling Patent No. 1,143,672, but improved as to certain details, that is, each die consists of two gathering lingers 86 at each side, each being mounted on a pivot 87 parallel to the drive shaft. The pivots are at one end and the fingers have their opposite or swinging ends 88 rounded toengage and gather the material without cutting or punching it. 87 are stops'89 on the die block engaged by stops'90 on the fingers. The ngers are controlled by spring-pressed sliding knuckles 91 actuated by springs 92 in the block and the center of the corner fold is flattened by an adjustable abutment 93, the adjustment being accomplished by means of a vertical set screw 94 controlled from the bottom of the block, the abutment 93 moving for purposes of adjustment in the vertical waysf95.

The internal former '76 is provided with a vertical shank 97 sliding in a suitable socket 98 in the support 77. Theformer is adjusted as to its vertical position by the direct thrust of a vertical set screw 99 which enters the support from aboveV and is held in adjusted position by a horizontal set Vscrew 100 which bears against the shank 97.

The vertical adjustment ofthe abutment 98 and the internal former 76 makes it possible to press the material forming the corners to the desired shape without cutting or' Yweakening 1t.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that in addition to the parts already described, have shown the table 60 Yprovided with two sets of gages 105 shown in operative position and 106 shown in inoperative position. Both sets are adjustable along the table, that'is, i nthe direction of the drive 'Y chine or press, the upper and lower beamsv shaft, and having guide surfaces 107, 108 at right anglesto the drive shaft.

Having reference to the operation of the machine, it has been pointed out that on each side of the machine, running in verti cal guides to the end frame e5, are two recipro'cating cross-heads 39 and e2, the upper and lower cross-heads 39 and a2 at each side of the machine being rigidly connected by the rod 111.v rEhe upper cross-heads 1L-2 on the o posite sidesof the machine are connectec by the upper transverse beam 47 and the lower cross-heads on each side of the machine are connected by transverse beam i6 so that'in the operation of the mathe' cutting and forming members have a suitable adjustment vas already described.

The dog 22 controlling the clutch 7 is normally heldin the path of lthe pin 16 by means of a spring and when in this normal position, it holds the pin out of engagement with the abutments 10 on the pulley 5. When the machine is to be operated, the dog 22 is lifted from normal positionby pressing the foot on a suitable pedal. As' soon `as the operation is completed, the pedal is released and the dog drops into position. Whenthe pin 16 comes into contact with the dog whichl is a wedge engaging the slot 27 in the pin, the latter is withdrawn, the clutch released and the machine stops instantaneously owing to the action of the brake 30, 3 1.

The plaited blanks are fed with the inside, e., what is to be the inside of the completed box., uppermost. By reciprocation of the-frame, including the beams 46, al carrying at the top the downwardly dis-Y posed knives, and at the bottom, the upwardly disposed corner dies, the downward stroke cuts the flaps and the upward stroke withdraws the knives and bends the plaits at the corners, z'. e., forms the corners. lf it is desired to score the paper between the top and bottom plaits, a scoring member between the dies is very conveniently provided as in the machine of the patent cited.

sthe knives operate during the latter half of the down stroke and are withdrawn during the irst half of the up stroke, this part of the operation of the machine isV referred to asv the working stroke of the cutters, and as the dies operate during the last half of the up stroke and are withdrawn from operative position `during the irst part of the down stroke, this part of the ol eration of the machine is referred to as the working stroke of the dies.

'One of the important points in the -operation of the machine is to have it so timed' that the cutting operation takes place and the knife is withdrawn prior tothe action of the dies. rllhis prevents dragging'of the knife through the gathered folds of the paper with consequent injury to the product; wherefore. the provision of the automatic clutch and brake in connection with the arrangement of the knives and dies on the upper and lower simultaneously moving beams 416 and 47.

rEhe timing ofthe parts is such that the pin 16 reaches the point on the incline 21 of the .dog at which it is drawn free of the abutmentslO on the gear', when the knives and dies have started on the Vdownward stroke so that the knives are still suiiiciently elevated to admit the blank without diiliculty, and the dies 75 are withdrawn out of the way and preferably beneath the table 60. Whenever the pedal 25 is depressed, the dog is withdrawn and the machine continues to operate until this pedal is released, returning the dogto the path 14. In this position of the dog, the machine continues to operate until the parts arrive in the position described'when the pin is withdrawn. the clutch released and the operation" of the machine arrested by the brake as already described. In this position, the

paper is insertedV and the pedal depressed pleted to the satisfaction of the attendant, the pedal released, the paper Withdrawn and the operation repeated.

I have thus described my invention specilically and in detail in order that its nature and` operation may be fully understood; however, the speciiic terms herein are used descriptively rather than in their limiting sense and the scope of the invention is defined in the claims:

l. In a machine for cutting the iiaps and orming the corners of a box blank, a re- Y,iprocating knife, a reciprocating corner- ,rming die with means for actuating the nite to complete its Working' stroke and 'le cie to complete its Working stroke duri of separate periods orn time, and means for arresting the movement of the parts just prior to the cutting operation.

2. In machine for cutting the aps and forming the corners of a plaited box blank of corrugated paper, a reciprocatingl knife and a reciprocating corner-forming die with means for actuating both members to operate and Withdraw during separate successive periods of time and means for arrest? ing the movement or" the parts just prior to the cutting operation.

3. In a machine Jfor cutting the flaps and forming the corners of a plaited box blank of corrugated paper, a reciprocating knife and a reciprocating corner-forming die with means for actuating both members to operate and Withdraw during separate successive periods of time, means for disconnecting the actuating means, and means for arresting the movement of the parts just prior to the cutting operation.

4. In a machine for cutting the iiaps and forming the corners of a plaited box blank of corrugated paper, a reciprocating knife and a reciprocating corner-forming die with means for actuating both members to oper-y ate and Withdraw during separate successive periods of time, and means for arresting the movement of the parts at a fixed predetermined point in the operation.

5. In a machine for cutting the flaps and forming the corners ot a box blank, cutters and external dies, oppositely disposed means for causing the same to operate successively, and means for arresting the movement of the parts just prior to the operation of the cutters.

6. `In a machine for cutting the iiaps and forming the corners of a box blank, cutting members including a knife and a cutting block, corner-forming members including an external die and internal corner-former, reciprocating means carrying one said cutting member and one said corner-forming member oppositely disposed so that cutting and forming take place on alternate strokes of the reciprocating means, the other cooperating cutting member and the other coroppositely disposed and carried by said reciprocating means, means for driving the reciprocating means, and means for discontinuing the operation of the machine just prior to the meeting of the cutting members.

8. In a machine lfor cutting and forming box blanks, reciprocating means and means i'or driving the same, a table for the blank, oppositely disposed cutting and forming members carried by the reciprocating means, a stationary cutting member cooperating With the moving cutting member on one stroke ot' the reciprocating means, and a stationary forming member cooperating With the moving forming member on the opposite stroke of the reciprocating means.

9. In a machine for cutting and forming box blanks, reciprocating means and means i'or driving the same, a table for the blank, oppositely disposed cutting and forming members carried by the reciprocating means, a stationary cutting member cooperating with the moving cutting member on one stroke of the reciprocating means, a stationary forming member cooperating With the moving forming member on the opposite stroke of the reciprocating means, means for discontinuing the drive of the reciprocating means just prior to the cutting operation, and means tending to arrest the motion of the parts when the drive is discontinued.

l0. In a machine for cutting and forming box blanks, reciprocating means and means for driving the same, a table for the blank, oppositely disposed cutting and forming members carried by the reciprocating means, a stationary cutting member cooperating With the moving cutting member on one stroke of the reciprocating means, a stationary forming member cooperating with the moving forming member on the opposite stroke ot the reciprocating means, means for discontinuing the drive of the reciprocating means at a predetermined point in the operation, and means tending to arrest the motion of the parts when the drive is discontinued.

ll. In a machine for cutting and forming box blanks, reciprocating means and meansV :tor driving the same, a table for the blank, oppositeiy disposed cutting and forming members carried by the reciprocating means, a stationary cutting member cooperating with the moving cutting member on one stroke of the reciprocating means, a stationles ary forming member cooperating With the moving Aforming member on the. opposite strolreof the reciprocating means, and `driving means for kthe reciprocating means, including a clutch and means normally tending to disconnect the clutch, said means operating j ust prior vto the coperation of the cutting members.

12. In a machine for cutting and forming box blanks, reciprocating means and means for driving the same, a table for the blank, oppositely disposed cutting .and forming members carried by the reciprocating means, a stationary cutting member cooperating with ,the moving cutting member on one stroke of the reciprocating means, a stationary forming member coperating with the moving forming member on the opposite stroke of the reciprocating means, and driving means Jfor .the reciprocating means, including a clutch, `means normally tending to disconnect the clutch, said means operating just prior members, and a brake for arresting the motion .of the parts WhenV the clutch is disconnected. Y c

13.. .In a machine .for cutting land forming box blanks, cooperating moving and stationto the coperation of the cuttingv 14. In a machine for cutting and forming boi; blanks, cooperating moving and stationary cutting members, cooperating moving and stationary corner-forming dies, the mov- Y ing cutting member and corner-forming die being oppositely disposed, and driving means including a clutch With a sliding bolt engaging a cooperating abutment, a dog normally tending to enter the path of thebolt and Withdraw it, disconnecting the clutch, said dog being timed and placed to accomplish the release of the clutch just prior to the operation of the .cutting member.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland,

this 24th day of July, 1919.

OTTO A. SCHMITT.

Witnesses z EMMA AHLSLEGER, EMMA VEHMEYER. 

